Use of snuff for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the use of an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of  Nicotiana tabacum  for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy. The preparation may comprise tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves or snuff. In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous preparation is a preparation of snuff dispersed in water or an aqueous solution.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of Netherlands applicationnumber 1029798 filed Aug. 24, 2005, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to the use of an (aqueous) preparationderived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum, in particular a tobaccoextract, ground tobacco leaves or snuff, more in particular snuff, forthe preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergyand/or cigarette smoke allergy, in particular house dust mite allergy.It also relates to a method for treating house dust mite allergy and/orcigarette smoke allergy, in particular house dust mite allergy, saidmethod including the step of administering to a patient in need thereofan aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum, inparticular a tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves or snuff, more inparticular snuff.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

House dust mite allergy and cigarette smoke allergy are characterised byone or more of the following symptoms: watering eyes, an itchy nose andpalate, a stuffed up nose, snoring.

Such allergies are often treated with conventional medicament such asdesloratadine and fexofenadine hydrochloride. However, such medicamentscontrol the symptoms only partly and often cause alleviation of thesymptoms of around 40%.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now surprisingly been found that daily intranasal administrationof an aqueous preparation of snuff during some time resulted indisappearance of the above symptoms. Once the symptoms had disappeared,the therapeutic treatment was stopped. Nevertheless the symptoms did notre-appear for at least one and a half-year, without revering toconventional therapy.

Snuff is a well-known stimulant that has been used for centuries. Amethod for its preparation is as follows: After undergoing severalmaturation processes, the tobacco leave is ground to a silk-like powder.Then the powder is sieved to obtain an even and smooth powder. Userssnuff this powder for a pleasant and stimulating experience. Atherapeutic use of snuff for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/orcigarette smoke allergy, in particular when the snuff is incorporated inan aqueous preparation, has hitherto not been described.

It is expected that the same effect on house dust mite allergy and/orcigarette smoke allergy as described for snuff will also be achievedusing other (aqueous) preparations derived from leaves of Nicotianatabacum, in particular tobacco extract and ground tobacco leaves. It isexpected that the leaves comprise one or more substances that can serveas active ingredient in a medicament for treatment of house dust miteallergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy.

Also, the present invention relates to a method for treating house dustmite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy, said method comprising thestep of administering to a patient in need thereof an aqueouspreparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of an aqueous preparationderived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for the preparation of amedicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy and/or cigarettesmoke allergy.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the use ofan aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for thepreparation of a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of anaqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for thepreparation of a medicament for treatment of cigarette smoke allergy.

In the case of snuff, one-teaspoon snuff was taken into 100 ml sterilewater. Sterile water may be obtained commercially or can simply beprepared, for example by boiling tap water. The resultant wasadminstered once a day, 3 drops per nostril, during 2 weeks. Using suchpreparation and administration regime, the intended result was achieved,and all of the above symptoms of house dust mite allergy and/orcigarette smoke allergy disappeared.

The aqueous preparation may be any aqueous preparation that isphysiologically acceptably, and is preferably sterile. In the presentexample, sterile water was used to prepare the aqueous preparation.Sterile saline solutions, in particular physiological saline solutions,may also be used. Further, the aqueous preparation may comprisepharmaceutically acceptable auxiliaries, such as buffer, dispergants,and the like. The skilled practitioner will be aware of suitable aqueouspreparations and auxiliaries.

The term “derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum” refers to a productthat is derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum. For example, thepreparation may comprise a product that is obtained by extracting theleaves of the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum, gring of such leaves, orthe like. Any product that can be incorporated in an aqueous preparationand can be administered intranasallly is suitable for incorporation inthe aqueous preparation according to the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the preparation comprises a product chosenfrom the group consisting of tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves andsnuff. The effectivity of snuff has been demonstrated, and it isexpected that the invention will similarly be applicable to preparationscomprising tobacco extract and/or ground tobacco leaves.

In a more preferred embodiment the product is snuff, since snuff hasbeen found to yield the intended result. The aqueous product may, inparticular in the case of snuff, be prepared just prior to itapplication by adding 1-10 grams, preferably 2-7 grams, more preferably3-5 grams, to 50-150 ml, preferably about 75-125 ml, water or aqueoussolution.

Preferably, the aqueous preparation according to the present inventionis administered during 1 week, preferably 2 weeks. The administrationregime is preferably once a day administration of the above aqueouspreparation, 2-5, preferably about 3, drops a day.

1. The use of an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotianatabacum for the preparation of a medicament for treatment of house dustmite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy.
 2. The use of an aqueouspreparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum for the preparationof a medicament for treatment of house dust mite allergy.
 3. Useaccording to claim 1, the preparation comprising a product chosen fromthe group consisting of tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves andsnuff.
 4. Use according to claim 3, the product being snuff.
 5. A methodfor treating house dust mite allergy and/or cigarette smoke allergy,said method comprising the step of administering to a patient in needthereof an aqueous preparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum.6. A method for treating house dust mite allergy, said method comprisingthe step of administering to a patient in need thereof an aqueouspreparation derived from leaves of Nicotiana tabacum.
 7. Methodaccording to claim 5, the preparation comprising a product chosen fromthe group consisting of tobacco extract, ground tobacco leaves, andsnuff.
 8. Method according to claim 7, the product being snuff.